When You're a Jet, You Stay a Jet!

We've been studying Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet for the past two weeks.  Luckily, one of my curricular objectives demands that we compare and contrast the text to a filmed version.  DONE!  I show a few clips from the 1997 Romeo + Juliet with Leonardo, Gnomeo and Juliet (this made an appearance in the blog last year), and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare--Abridged!  

Today was a half day, and I only had about thirty minutes with one of my classes.  I decided I would show them some of West Side Story.  I used to show the entire movie because I feel it is my duty as a teacher to expose my students to the wonder of musical theater, plus then I can sing the songs at the kids all day and it gives me great pleasure.  Strangely, the students are usually bored and/or annoyed with the film (and possibly my singing), so I have backed off and now only show a few scenes.  Today's group, however, would have happily watched the entire thing.  I started off with the opening dance battle scene.  Usually the kids complain about how lame it is.  This group immediately sorted themselves into rival gangs based on shirt color.  We didn't have time to watch much more other than the scene at the dance, but it certainly made an impression.  As they walked out to their lockers, there was a great deal of snapping as well as some jazz hands.  No, I am not joking.

A parent has already reported that the snapping continued at home as well.  Apparently I need to teach an elective on classical musical films.

99 Luftballons

Okay, there weren't 99 balloons, and they certainly weren't all red.  But there were plenty of balloons and streamers attached to my door last week for my birthday by my wonderful teammates (thanks again, teamies!)

The decorations haven't been removed due to my laziness my desire to force everyone to celebrate my birthday all month.  Two balloons did have to be removed, however, because I couldn't open the door all the way.  If you have met seventh graders, you understand that the door needs to be able to open all the way while you are monitoring them from the hall.  The balloons that I removed were hung inside my room on my closet door in a rather festive manner.  I noticed today that one of them was looking pretty puny, but I didn't have time care enough to deflate it and throw it away.

During my second block class, a student was apparently saddened by the sorry state of the balloon.  I looked up to find him standing in the back by the closet.  PETTING THE BALLOON.

"What on earth are you doing?" I demanded.

"I just couldn't help it!" he cried.  "The balloon just looks--so sad!  I thought it needed a friend!  If the balloon can't have a friend, then no one can!"

I am a monster, apparently.

No Business Like Show Business

One of my self-appointed jobs as a middle school teacher is to teach my students that life isn't fair.  You don't like your assigned seat?  Life's not fair.  You forgot your book in your locker?  Life's not fair.  The English language is difficult?  Life's not fair.

It's a public service, really.

I don't remember what the charge was today--maybe something about not getting chosen to share good news or something equally as life-shattering.  So I launched into my usual speech about life not being fair.  A kid over in the corner--without prompting from me-- launched into "It's A Hard-Knock Life."  He was quickly joined by the majority of the class.  That adorable Orphan Annie sure gets me.

In related news, I would like to promote the use of show tunes in the classroom on a daily basis.  Perhaps I can team up with the music teacher and offer credit for applying appropriate lyrics to classroom situations....hmmmm...

Four Groovy Buttons!

One of my classes has paired up with the Young Fives class at my school for reading buddies.  We meet once a week and help the little kids learn how to read and do projects.  The seventh graders LOVE it, and the small ones do too!

Today our class was tasked with helping the kids learn about subtraction.  The teacher had a book about Pete the Cat and his four groovy buttons; she showed the pictures while we listened to an audio recording.  The basic plot is: even though Pete's buttons pop off one by one, he just keeps on singing his groovy song.  Eventually ALL his buttons pop off, and Pete is left with only his belly button.  I'm including a link for you if you happen to be unfamiliar with Pete, as I was.

Well, Pete's groovy song is possibly the biggest, baddest ear worm that ever reared its ugly head.  Really.  Listen to it.  I DARE YOU NOT TO BOP ALONG.

As a result, the seventh graders were dancing around singing the button song once we returned to our classroom.  Which was quite the sight.  Then this exchange occurred:

Student:  Don't you think that book is inappropriate for young five students?

Me: Um, no.  It has a cat singing a groovy song.  What could be inappropriate about that?

Student:  At the end Pete is practically naked because all the buttons have fallen off his shirt.  This movie should have been rated R for brief nudity.  Totally shocking.  Belly buttons sticking out all over.

Me:  I could get on board with your logic on this one.

I'll Try Not To Let It Go To My Head

We have morning assembly in the gym each day before classes begin.  My class sits at the far end of the gym, so we have to walk the length of the floor before we sit down.  My former students have taken to applauding as I walk by.  I swear I had no part in initiating this ritual, but it sure is an ego boost each morning!

Some people may think it's sad that my self-esteem rests on the accolades of eighth graders.  I say you should take the accolades where you can get them and enjoy them while they last.

Should I be Offended or Flattered?

New school year!  Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!  More fodder for my blog!

My class sits in the back of the gym at our daily morning assembly.  The eighth graders (my former students) sit on the bleachers directly behind my class.  I did not take this fact into account last year when I tormented them taught them language arts to the best of my ability.  It's only been two days, and already I have been mocked, kicked, and glared at.  I'm certain it's all done out of love, but this gives you a sense of the relationship that this group of girls has with me.

Anyway, the girls were glaring at me before assembly started.  This, of course, simply provokes me to come over and taunt them further.  When I did, one of the girls gave me a big hug.  I do not deny that I was slightly surprised by her gesture, but it was really sweet.

"See? Some people appreciate and love me," I said to the rest of the gaggle.

The hugging girl abruptly broke off the hug, slid down the bleachers, and said, "Oh, I wasn't hugging you because I missed you.  You're just really, really soft."

Hmmmm.  Soft is not generally an adjective I would use to describe myself, but maybe she had a point....

Ewwwwww.

School hasn't officially started yet, so no amusing kid stories.  But don't worry, I cause enough chaos all on my own to keep the ball rolling here.

Yesterday morning my beagle got really sick.   Like, throwing up nine times sick.  I thought he was dying.  Of course, yesterday was my first day of meetings, so I couldn't really not be there.  I made the decision to bring him with me to work so I could keep a closer eye on him.  The second we got into the car, he instantly became happy, rambunctious dog again.  He was relatively okay all day at school and I took him to the vet as soon as I could.  After running $200 worth of tests, the vet diagnosed him with a serious G.I. upset, probably caused from eating something he shouldn't have eaten.  In case you are unaware, beagles are notorious for garbage-digging.  So I paid up and took him home, pumped full of fluids and anti-nausea meds.

This morning, the beagle seemed fine.  He was sitting on my bed while I got ready to leave.  We got brand-new staff t-shirts yesterday with the intent that we were to wear them at our back-to-school carnival so parents would know who staff members are.  I was not going to wear mine until the evening because wearing something that I need to keep clean all day invariably leads to me spilling something on it.  Inversely, if I wore a different shirt during the day and changed at night, the likelihood of me NOT spilling anything is 100%.  Math never lies.  I folded the shirt and left it on the bed, ready to put in my backpack, while I brushed my teeth.

The beagle puked on my shirt.

Panicked, I ran through my options in my head:

1.  Wash shirt in sink and pray that it dries in time for evening event

2.  Wear a different shirt to the carnival, confusing parents and aggravating my boss who bought the shirts specifically to be worn at the carnival

3  Wipe it down and wear it as is (not really an actual option, because gross)

4  Throw it in washer and drier at home, which would delay departure by at least an hour and cause me to be late to school

5  Find laundromat near school. Wash and dry it between meetings and event.  Seems smart.  Problem: no laundry detergent or cash on hand. 

5.  Call teammate who lives five minutes from school and beg her to wash my shirt and bribe one of her children to move it from the washer to the dryer during the day.  Have teammate pick up shirt while picking up children.  SOLD!

I remain hopeful that should you attend the carnival tonight, I will be wearing my new shirt.  The beagle is not invited.